NVIDIA

NVIDIA

Posted via Workday

Senior Thermal Mechanical Photonic Designer

Posted Aug 5, 2026

Role at a glance

Salary
$168K – $310.5K/yr
Location
Santa Clara, California, United States
Work arrangement
On-site
Employment
Full-time
Experience
5+ years of experience in a related field
Education
PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a similar discipline (or equivalent experience)

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Role Summary

AI-generated

The Senior Thermal Mechanical Photonic Designer will join NVIDIA’s global circuits team, which develops GPUs and CMOS and Silicon-Photonics high-speed chip interfaces and photonic functions. The role focuses on thermal, structural, and opto-mechanical design for silicon photonic components and electronic packages, supporting validation, reliability, and product development.

What You'll Do

  • Work on thermal and structural design of silicon photonic designs.
  • Run stress simulations in optical components and fiber alignment and propose improved optical component designs.
  • Set up experimental methodology for thermal validation and laser performance under different stress conditions.
  • Model Si die-package thermo-mechanical interactions, including solder joint fatigue and creep.
  • Support optical engineering and system engineering leads with opto-mechanical system design.
  • Perform thermal characterization of electronic packages and craft thermal specification datasheets based on finite-element analysis and...

Generated from the employer's posting. Verify important details before applying.

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Qualifications

PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a similar discipline (or equivalent experience); 5+ years of experience in a related field; 3+ years of experience in the development of silicon photonics ICs from concept to high-volume manufacturing; experience in product development of optics or photonic systems; experience in applied research on Silicon Photonic ICs and Systems; hands-on experience with Silicon Photonics products; proficient in Ansys tools; experience with design tools and fixtures for alignment, fabrication, gluing, and assembly of lasers, interferometers, and optical components; experience defining system performance and component specifications; excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Required

  • PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a similar discipline (or equivalent experience)
  • 5+ years of experience in a related field
  • 3+ years of experience in the development of silicon photonics ICs from concept to high-volume manufacturing
  • Experience in product development of optics or photonic systems
  • Experience in applied research on Silicon Photonic ICs and Systems
  • Hands-on experience with Silicon Photonics products
  • Proficient in Ansys tools
  • Background with design tools and fixtures to aid in alignment, fabrication, gluing, and assembly of lasers, interferometers, and optical...

Original job description

Content provided by the employer

We are now looking for a Senior Thermal Mechanical Photonic Designer. We are part of the global circuits team at NVIDIA that craft the state-of-the-art GPUs for all applications such as supercomputers, gaming consoles and self-driving cars. Come join us in our mission to Engineer the next generation of outstanding products. Teams are dedicated to the architecture and design of CMOS and Silicon-Photonics high-speed chip interfaces (NVLink, IEEE, PCIE, USB, OIF) and other sophisticated photonic functions. Strong hands-on lab experience with silicon evaluation, debugging, characterization, and bring up.

What you will be doing:

  • Work on Thermal and Structural design of Silicon Photonic designs

  • Run stress simulation in optical components and fiber alignment and propose improved design of optical components.

  • Set up experimental methodology for thermal validation and laser performance under different stress conditions.

  • Modeling Si die-package thermo-mechanical interactions

  • Solder joint fatigue and creep modeling

  • Support the optical engineering and system engineering leads with the opto-mechanical system design.

  • Die-package thermo-mechanical interactions in electronic packages for predicting failures during various assembly and reliability tests to recommend design, process or material changes.

  • Hygroscopic stresses in electronic packages due to moisture diffusion.

  • Crack propagation and interfacial delamination.

  • Multifaceted simulation of wire-bonding and wire fusing process

  • Thermal characterization of electronic packages (crafting thermal specification datasheets based on FE and experiments according to JEDEC standards)

  • Solder joint fatigue and creep modeling

What we need to see:

  • PhD in Electrical Engineering, Physics, or a similar discipline (or equivalent experience) with 5+ years of experience in a related field

  • 3+ years of experience in the development of silicon photonics ICs from concept to high-volume manufacturing

  • Experience in product development of optics or photonic systems

  • Experience in applied research on Silicon Photonic ICs and Systems

  • Hands-on experience with Silicon Photonics products

  • Proficient in Ansys tools

  • Background with design tools and fixtures to aid in alignment, fabrication, gluing, and assembly of lasers, interferometers, and optical components

  • Experience working, communicating, and collaborating in a cross-functional team environment

  • Experience defining system performance and component specifications

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills

  • Self-motivated and self-directed individual, with little supervision vital

Your base salary will be determined based on your location, experience, and the pay of employees in similar positions. The base salary range is 168,000 USD - 264,500 USD for Level 4, and 196,000 USD - 310,500 USD for Level 5.

You will also be eligible for equity and benefits.

Applications for this job will be accepted at least until June 16, 2026.

This posting is for an existing vacancy. 

NVIDIA uses AI tools in its recruiting processes.

NVIDIA is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment and proud to be an equal opportunity employer. As we highly value diversity in our current and future employees, we do not discriminate (including in our hiring and promotion practices) on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status or any other characteristic protected by law.

NVIDIA

About the company

NVIDIA

Large Enterprise

NVIDIA is a leading technology company renowned for its graphics processing units (GPUs) and innovative computing solutions that enhance visual experiences across multiple platforms, including gaming, scientific research, and artificial intelligence. Founded in 1993, the company has expanded its offerings to include powerful AI frameworks and deep learning platforms, making significant contributions to industries such as gaming, data centers, automotive, and healthcare. NVIDIA's commitment to pushing the boundaries of visual computing continues to drive advancements in both hardware and software, positioning the company at the forefront of emerging technologies and digital transformation.